Mining machine



June 30, 1925. 1,544,073

R. c. OSGOOD MINING MACHINE Filed June .13, l92l Patented June 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES ROBERT c.

PATENT OFFICE.

OSGOOD, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIG-NOR T0 SULLIVAN MA- CHINE-RY COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MINING MACHINE.

Application filed June 13, 1921. Serial No. 477,045.

-' room andpillar type, and improved power connected controlling mechanism whereby the take-up mechanism may be readily adjusted when used toangle the machine during cutting. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved feedmg mech-. anism adapted to be controlled in such a manner as to enable the movement of. the machine to be controlled both conveniently and easily by an operator at the machine.

While my invention may be embodied in various forms, in the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of'illustration one embodiment which the same may assume in practice.

In these drawings, a

. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine equipped for cutting from right to left, the take-up being shown in a plurality of positions.

Fig. 2 is a view partially in plan and partially in horizontal section, the view being taken on planes corresponding tothe portions of the line 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view, the section being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view showing the slide for the take-up.

Fig. 5 is a'detail section on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 1s a diagrammatic view showing the mechanism in operation and cutting from right to left.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown a mining machine of a standard room and pillar type comprising a frame 1 having a cutter bar 2 and a cutter chain 3 movable about the latter, the machine being adapted to be moved over the mine bottom on a usual shoe 4 by flexible feeding mechanism, herein including a feed chain 5 guided by cooperating idlers 6 and 7 at opposite ends of the frame and adapted to be fed by the mining machine motor 8 through improved feed operating and controlling mechanism, hereinafter described, which is in turn operative.

1y connected between the motor and a late]; ally extending feed operating member 9.

In my improved construction, a bevel pinion 10 is operatively connected with the rear end of the shaft 11 of the motor and meshes with a horizontal bevel gear 12 suitably journaled on a vertical axis in rear of the motor and herein at its under side operatively connected through a suitable clutch mechanism 18 (diagrammatically illustrated) with a cutter chain driving sprocket 14. Above this gear 12 and disposed coaxially therewith is a worm 15 connected to an in-- ner concentric shaft 16 through a usual friction clutch mechanism 17. This worm 15 in turn meshes with a worm gear 18 fixed to and rotatable with a transversely extending shaft 19 journaled in the frame 1 and operatively connected with a transverse shaft hereinafter described and driving the feed operating member 9. As shown, the shaft 19 has pinions 20 and 21 on its opposite ends.

Of these pinions, the member 21 meshes di-.

rectly with a larger gear 22 carried on a sleeve 23 freely rotatable on a transverse feed operating shaft 24 to one end of which the feed operating member 9 is fixed. The pinion 20, on the contrary, meshes with a small intermediate pinion 25 suitably journaled on the frame and this pinion in turn meshes with a larger gear 26, similarly rotatable with a sleeve 27 journaled on the other end of the shaft 24;. As shown, these two sets of gearing are also adapted to be selectively connected to the shaft 24 in such a manner as to drive the same at different speeds in opposite directions, a clutch member 28 splined to the shaft being disposed between the inner ends of the sleeves and connectible with either through a usual clutch controlling mechanism including a lever 29.

Operatively disposed with relation to the feed operating member 9 is a cooperating idler member 30, the member 30 acting to direct the feed chain relative to the feed operating member and to hold the feed chain in the desired relation thereto. As shown, this member 30 is disposed above the feed operating member and slightly in advance thereof. An additional cooperating chain guiding m'emb'er 31 of smaller diameter may also be provided in rear of the member and the member 9,and between the member 30 and therearidlersfT. In my improved construction, the memberrfiO is also adjust able in such a manner as to control the ten- S1011 of the chain, and therefore," the angular position of the machine, the same being preferably, as herein, operative-1y connected to the motor under the control of the operator.

Referrin more particularly to the construc'tion shown in Fig. '2, it will beobserved that thetransverse shaft 19 has fixed theretoat a point adjacent the gear 20', a bevel gear 32 which inturn mesl'ie's-with bevel pinion 3'3 c'arr'ied on the rear end of a longitudinallydisposed shaft 34, in: turn carryiiigon its front end a similafi bevel pinion meshing with oppositely disposed bevel gears 36- and 37 each freely rotatable on a: transverse shaft 38 herein journaledon their'ame above the armature shaft. As shown herein, a" clutch'member-39 is also t ie gears 36 and gland adapted to connect either gear tethe shaftdesired, and

thereby rotate the shaft :28 nieitherjd'irection. As shown, the shaft 38 also carries at .its outer end a worm 40 meshing with al GO:

operating worm-gear 4:1] in turn carried in non-rotative relation thereto on the front end of a longitudinally disposed threaded member 42 rotatable at its rear end in a flanged block 43 carrying the member '39 and longitudinally movable in a' rec'ess 01 slot 44 in the side of the frame. By this construction, it will I through proper manipulation of the clutch member 39, as through suitable clutchcontrolling mechanism including a lever 45, the

member '30 may be made to move forward or'backward relative to the member 9 and thereby take up or release the slack in the feed chain 5. i

In the'operation of my'iinpr'oved mocha nis'm, the feed chain 5 is threaded relative tothe front idler 6 and the elements 9, 3O, 31 and 7 inthe manner shown in'Fig, 1.

hen it is desired to vary the angle of the machine, the member 30 is adjusted relative to the member 9 in such a manner as to draw in 'or feed out the rear end of the feed chain, and thereby cause the angleof the bar to be varied relative to the work in awell-known I manner. During this operation, it will be observedth'at 1t 1s only necessary for the operator to move the control member 45 in order tocause the member 30'to be moved by power relative to the member 9, move ment of the member 45 in one direction causing the member 30 to move forwardrelative to the frame and to draw in the rear end of the chain and lengthen the por tion thereof between the members 9 and 7,

splin'e'd to the' shaft 38 poin't'between be observed that thereby swinging the frame and bar toward the otherside, while movement of the member 45 in the opposite direction causes the member 30 to lengthen this portion of the chain and thereby swing the bar back towa-rd its perpendicular relation to the face;

Obviously, due ,to'the feeding mechanism prov ded including the improved variable is driven th'rou'glrthe gears 21,25 and 26.

While I havein this-application speciii'cal'ly described one form WhICll my 1nventio'n may assume in practice,1t will be understood that this: form of the same is; sh'own for purposes of illustration and that the invention may b'emodified and embodied in other forms Withoutdeparting from its spirit or) the scope of the: appended i claims.

lVhat ,I claim as new anddcsire .to cureby Letters Patent is? 1.111 a ni'ining machine, altrame sliduble on a mine bottom during cutting", a feed operating member thereon, a flexible feed menibe'r" n'gaging said feed operating member'anch tending in opposite directions from opposite ends of said frame, and takeup r'neans' rectilinear-1 movable longitudi: nally on the frame adjacent said operating member and operative to effect angling of said machine frame Without changingthe point from which the feed operating incur her leaves the frame. 1

2. In a mining machine, a frame slidable on a mine bottom, a feed operatingmember rotatable on a transverse axis thereon, a fle-Xible feed member engaging said member and extending in opposite directions from the opposite ends of said frame, and take-up meansrectilinearly movable on said frameiadjacent said operating member.

3. In a mining machine, a feed operating member,- a cooperating idler adjacent the same and rotatable on a parallel axis, a

flexible feed member engaging said memhers, and means including a cooperating ldlermovable 1n a straighthne extending generally perpendicular to the working face for varying the length of the flexible member between saidfirst mentioned elements.

4; In a mining machine, a fced'operating member rotatable 1 on a horizontal axis, a cooperating idler adjacent the same and' rotatable on-anparallel axis, a flexible feed member engaging said members, and means including a cooperating idler for varying the lengthof the flexible member between said first mentioned elements while said flexible feed member is under tension throughout its effective length.

5. In a mining machine, a frame slidable on a mine bottom, feed driving mechanism thereon including a vertically disposed feed operatlng member and a flexible feeding member extending in opposite d rections from the opposite ends of said frame, a versite ends of said frame, a cooperating idler adjacent said feed operating member, and means operatively connected to said driving mechanism for adjusting said idler bodily relative to said feed operating member.

7.'In a mining machine, a frame, feeding mechanism thereon including a laterally disposed feed operating member and a lat-' erally disposed idler member each rotatable about a fixed horizontal axis, a feed chain cooperating with said feed operating member and also engaging said idler, and means for varying the length thereof between said members while said chain remains under tension throughout its effective length.

8. In a mining machine, a'frame slidable on a mine bottom, feeding mechanism thereon including a laterally disposed feed operating member and a laterally disposed idler member each rotatable abouta fixed horizontal axis, a feed chain cooperating with said feed operating member and also engaging said idler and extending in oppositedirections from the opposite ends of said frame, and means for varying the length thereof between said members while said chain remains under tension throughout its effective length.

9. In a minim machine, a feed operating member rotatable on a transverse axis, an idler member adjacent the same and rotatable on a parallel axis, a flexible feed member engaging said members, an idler rotatable on a parallel axis and engageable with said feed member between said first mentioned members, and means for adjusting said last mentioned idler relative to said feed operating member.

10. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on a horizontal transverse axis, a flexible feeding member engageable therewith, driving mechanism for said feed operating member, and a cooperating idler engaging said flexible feeding member and adjustable relative to said feed operating member but rotatable on a parallel axis and movable in opposite directions by said driving mechanism.

11. In a mining machine, a frame slidable on *a mine bottom, feeding mechanism thereon including a vertically disposed feed operating member, a flexible feeding member cooperating with the latter extending in opposite directions from the opposite ends of'said frame, an idler engaging said flexible'mem'ber, a stationary guide sheave be yond said idler in terms of flexible feeding member disposition, and means for adjusting said idler longitudinally of said frame including an idler supporting block slidable on said frame.

12. In a mining machine, a frame slidable on a mine bottom, feeding mechanism thereon including a laterally extending feed operating member, a flexible feeding member cooperating with the latter extending in opposite directions from the opposite ends of said frame, an idler engaging said flexible member, a stationary guide sheave'beyond said idler in terms of flexible feeding member disposition, and me.ns for adjusting said idler longitudinally of said frame including an idler supporting block slidable on said frame and a threaded member ro tatable to adjust said block. 7

13. In a mining machine, a frame slidable on a mine bottom, feeding mechanism thereon including a feed operating member rotatable on a transverse axis and a flexible feeding member extending in opposite directions from the opposite ends of said frame, a cooperating adjustable idler adjacent said operating member and rotatable on a transverse axis and movable in a rectilinear path, and power driven means for adjusting said idler in either direction relative to said feed operating member;

14. In a mining machine, a frame, feeding mechanismthereon including a feed operating member rotatable on a transverse axis, a cooperating adjustable idler adjacent the same also rotatable on a transverse axis and movable in a rectilinear path.v and power driven means for adjusting said element including a clutch for controlling the direction of movement thereof.

15. A room and pillar mining machine slidable on a mine bottom and having flexible lateral feeding means including flexible feeding portions extending in opposite di rections from the opposite ends of said ma chine, and feed operating and rectilinearly movable take-up mechanism cooperating with said portions and disposed on the advancing side of said machine and operative to produce controlled lateral feeding.

16. A room and pillar mining machine slidable on a mine bottom and having flexible feeding means including flexible feeding portions extending laterally in opposite directions from the opposite ends of the-frame, and means cooperating therewith including a feed operating member, a guide sheave and a rectilinearly moving take-up engaging said flexible feeding means between said sheave and said operating member, the reeving of said; flexible feeding means around said three members lying in a single plane.

17. A room and pillarm'ining machine slidable on a mine bottom and having flexible feeding means including flexible feeding portions extending laterally in opposite di' rections from the opposite ends of the frame, and means cooperating therewith including a feed operating member, a guide sheave and a rectilinearly moving take-up engaging said flexible feeding means between said sheave and said operating member, the reeving of said flexible feeding means around said three members lying in a single plane extending longitudinally of the machine frame.

18. A room and pillar mining machine slidable on a 'mine bottom and having flexible feeding means including flexible feeding portions extending laterally in opposite directions from the opposite ends of the frame, and means cooperating therewith ineluding a feed operating-member, a guide sheave and a rectilinearly moving take-up engaging said flexible feeding means be tween said sheave and said operatingmember, the V reeving of said flexible feeding means around said three members lying in a vertical longitudinally extending plane.

19. A room and pillar mining machine slidable on a mine bottom and having flexible lateral feeding means including flexible feeding portions extending. in opposite directions from the opposite ends of said machine, and feed operating and takeup mechanism cooperating with said portions and disposed on the advancing side of said machine and operative to produce controlled lateral feeding.

20. A room and pillar mining machine slidable on a mine bottom and having flexible lateral feeding means including flexible feedingportions extending in opposite directions froin the opposite ends of said machine, and feed operating and takeup mechanism cooperating with said portions and disposed on the advancing side of said machine and including a feed operating member'rotatable on a transverse axis and an adjustable takeup member.

21-. A room and-pillar mining machine slidable on a mine bottom and having flexible lateral feeding means including a continuous flexible feeding member presenting flexible feeding portions extending in opposite-directions from the opposite ends of said machine, and feed operating and take-- up mechanism cooperating with said portions and disposed on the advancing side of said machine and operative to produce controlled lateral feeding. a

22. A room and pillar mining machine sildable on a mine bottom and having fiexible lateral feeding means including flexs ible feeding portions extending in opposite directions from the opposite ends of said machine, and feed operating and takeup mechanism cooperating with said portions and disposed on the advancing side of said machine and including an adjustable power moved takeup member movable to control said receding portion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT o. osGoon. 

